Chapter 83: Third-Grade Martial Artist
Wu Yuan was oblivious to the storms of the world outside. Even if he were aware of them, he didn't care. The headmaster of the martial academy had yet to return, his absence far exceeding the three to five days mentioned by Chen Qing. Thus, Wu Yuan was left undisturbed.
Apart from routine rest and sleep, Wu Yuan dedicated his days to intense training in the martial chamber.
When he first consumed the Starlight Liquid, his body held huge potential for improvement, hence his physical constitution improved rapidly. In less than a day, his one-armed strength could increase by more than 10,000 catties! However, once he depleted all ten drops of Starlight Liquid and switched to Qi Enhancement Pills, the pace of his progress slowed. Furthermore, his physical constitution was beginning to reach its current limit. Naturally, the rate of enhancement began to dwindle.
After three days, his rapid advancements in physical constitution came to a halt. At this point, Wu Yuan nearly exhausted the supply of Qi Enhancement Pills.
I've reached my limit.
His musculoskeletal system had grown much stronger and more resilient than before, empowering him with seemingly boundless strength at a mere thought.
Wu Yuan flexed his arm, causing his muscles to bulge. His sinews resembled steel, radiating an incredible strength. Taking a step forward, he propelled his spine, limbs, and bones with the sheer force of his muscles.
Boom! As he threw a punch forward, a terrifyingly sharp whistle cut through the air, akin to the sonic boom produced by a throwing knife. He darted across the room with such speed that his figure nearly left afterimages.
A smile spread across Wu Yuan's face as he marveled at his newfound power.
Excellent! A single punch of mine now has approximately 68,000 catties of force.
That was an increase of more than 20,000 catties since he began his seclusion. If word of his rate of progress got out, few martial artists would believe it. And if it were confirmed, it would certainly cause an uproar throughout the Jiang Continent.
Previously, my physical constitution fell short of a third-grade martial artist, but now, I have surpassed it by far. Wu Yuan pulled back his fist, the tidal wave of power in his body receding. I’ve reached this target half a year earlier than I planned.
According to the grades of martial artists in the world of the Middle Land:
A third-grade martial artist's (first-rate Adept) minimum strength was 50,000 catties.
A second-grade martial artist's (Savant expert) minimum strength was 100,000 catties.
A first-grade martial artist's (Land Ranker) minimum strength was 200,000 catties.
In the past, Wu Yuan's exceptional martial skills allowed him to contend with first-rate Adepts. But even then, if he were to face the likes of Iron Tower Long Er, the strongest tier of first-rate Adepts, his chances of winning in a direct confrontation were less than 50%. He had relied on stealth weapons to secure victory in the previous battle, forcing Long Er to retreat.
Martial skills are established on the basis of one's physical constitution. No matter how impressive one's martial skills, they are useless if one's physical constitution is too weak. Now, my physical constitution is considered average among first-rate Adepts.
Previously, Wu Yuan could only exert a force of 130,000-140,000 catties after Threefold Power Surge due to his physical limitations. In contrast, Iron Tower Long Er could unleash nearly 200,000 catties of force with just Twofold Power Surge. When employing Threefold Power Surge, Long Er's power soared to almost 300,000 catties.
Because of this vast difference in strength, Wu Yuan didn’t dare to confront Long Er directly. Just a few exchanges would destabilize his qi, hence he chose to retreat. But now, things were different.
With Threefold Power Surge, I can now exert more than 200,000 catties of force. Wu Yuan's eyes blazed with an intense battle spirit. And I can maintain it for a prolonged period.
Even if first-rate Adepts managed to grasp Threefold Power Surge, most found it hard to maintain the technique throughout a battle. The technique placed a heavy load on the body, hence it was rarely deployed, mostly used as a finishing move.
If one could unleash Threefold Power Surge at will without tiring, it meant that one had reached the Rigid Yet Supple phase. However, Wu Yuan speculated that even among Savant experts, not many could reach this stage of martial skill.
Iron Tower Long Er displayed formidable martial skill, and wouldn’t necessarily lose to a Savant expert. His only shortcoming was his relatively weaker physical constitution.
If I were to face Iron Tower Long Er again? Defeating him will be as easy as killing Bai Yuxian then. Wu Yuan was full of confidence.
Confidence stemmed from strength. In the past, Wu Yuan would have fled at the sight of a Savant expert, but now, he was more than willing to engage with slightly weaker ones.
After all, if new Savant experts had physical constitutions of just over 100,000 catties. Even with Threefold Power Surge, it would only amount to around 300,000 catties at most. As long as Wu Yuan avoided fatal blows and found an opportunity to unleash the Thousand Mountains technique, there was a possibility of killing his opponent. Of course, the process was a perilous one, but Wu Yuan no longer felt as helpless as before.
Most individuals at my current level of strength are venturing through counties and exploring the vast continents of this world.
The thirteen continents were immense, and true powerhouses were rare. As long as one remained humble and refrained from instigating unnecessary trouble, the odds of encountering a Land Ranker or a Savant expert were exceedingly slim.
I mustn't allow arrogance to cloud my judgment. At present, my abilities only permit me to spar with weaker Savant experts at best. If I meet stronger ones, the likelihood of defeat is quite high.
And if I were to encounter a Land Ranker? That would mean certain death!
Wu Yuan was clear about his limitations.
The black pagoda and the blood-red mist can expedite my growth, but I still need to strive hard. I am currently only fourteen and a half years old.
Even if the blood-red mist can no longer refine my genome, the assistance it has provided thus far is immeasurable. In another three and a half years, my physical constitution will have undergone a significant transformation.
I must maintain a low profile. I am progressing at a rapid pace, and my cultivation resources are plentiful, there’s no need to stand out and make waves.
In the coming years, I will stay in the Cloudstride Sect, gradually unraveling the secrets of the Middle Land.
Taking things slow and steady was of utmost importance. He only had one life, there was no need to take life-threatening risks unless absolutely necessary.
Nevertheless, before embarking for the Cloudstride Sect, there is one matter I must resolve. A hint of frost flashed across Wu Yuan's eyes.
Xu Shouyi!
...
In the blink of an eye, several days slipped by.
Wu Yuan stayed in Southdream City for a full ten days before finally receiving news from Chen Qing: the headmaster of Southdream Martial Academy, Yu Mo, had returned.
In a courtyard house within the Radiant Hall.
"Wu Yuan, my apologies for the delay," Chen Qing said with utmost courtesy. "I did not anticipate the Headmaster's absence to be prolonged. Inspector Xie informs me that he was called upon to attend to an urgent matter."
"No worries," replied Wu Yuan calmly.
"As soon as the headmaster returned, he immediately instructed me to summon you," Chen Qing continued with a solemn tone. "At this moment, the headmaster, Inspector Xie, eight other instructors, and 60 observing students have all arrived at the Martial Grand Hall. They await your arrival."
Wu Yuan nodded in understanding. "I shall follow your lead, Instructor Chen."
"This way," Chen Qing motioned, leading Wu Yuan through the martial academy. His team of guards did not accompany them, only Gu Ji strolled along at a steady pace.
Before long, the trio arrived at the imposing Martial Grand Hall of the Southdream Martial Academy. This hall surpassed the size and amenities of its counterpart in Li City Martial Academy. The strength assessment hall alone rivaled the main hall of the latter.
From a distance, Wu Yuan saw dozens of figures gathered within the strength assessment hall. Some were martial academy instructors, while others were students. According to the sect regulations, special recruitment assessments necessitated the presence of the headmaster, an inspector, a required number of instructors, and observing disciples. This was to ensure the fairness and integrity of the proceedings.
Among the crowd, Wu Yuan easily recognized a few familiar faces, such as Inspector Xie Yu and the disciple Zhu Shang.
However, it was a middle-aged man donning a loose martial robe who led the proceedings. His gaze was sharp, his movements confident, a clear indication of his expertise. The only aspect that gave Wu Yuan pause was the fact that he possessed only a single arm.
As the trio made their way into the strength assessment hall, everyone in attendance turned their attention to them.
"Headmaster, this is Wu Yuan," Chen Qing introduced, guiding Wu Yuan toward the one-armed man.
"Wu Yuan greets Headmaster Yu," Wu Yuan paid his respects.
"So, you are Wu Yuan?" The one-armed man studied Wu Yuan, a slight smile tugging at his lips. "I've reviewed your profile. You lost your father at a young age but didn't lose heart. Instead, you pushed yourself hard in your training and never slacked off. You've achieved remarkable things at such a young age. Very impressive indeed."
"I am unworthy of such praise," Wu Yuan humbly responded.
"No need for excessive formality," Headmaster Yu Mo replied, his gaze gentle. "Your father...he perished in the Battle of Hillstride, didn't he?"
Wu Yuan nodded, but did not understand why he was asked this.
"Wu Yuan, the headmaster lost his arm in the Battle of Hillstride," whispered Chen Qing from the sidelines.
Wu Yuan immediately understood.
"I was the captain of a large army during the Battle of Hillstride. Perhaps your father was one of my soldiers," said Headmaster Yu with a sigh. "Regrettably, we lost that battle, along with the Hillstride Province."
Wu Yuan listened silently. The Hillstride and Cloudhill Provinces formed the bedrock of the Cloudstride Sect. Losing Hillstride undoubtedly dealt a severe blow to the sect.
Why did the Cloud Martial Hall refer to the annual recruitment of new disciples as the tournament of four provinces? It served to remind all sect members that the Hillstride Province must never be forgotten!
"In these trying times for our sect, we cannot afford to squander your exceptional talent. I hope that you can carry on your father's legacy and become a pillar of our sect," Headmaster Yu remarked with a smile.
"I shall strive to do so," Wu Yuan pledged solemnly.
The surrounding throng of instructors and disciples exchanged puzzled glances. They were well aware of how strict the headmaster normally was. So why then, was he displaying such an unusual amiability towards Wu Yuan? A pillar of the sect? In their eyes, it would at least take a first-rate Adept to earn such a title.
"I have a rough understanding of your strength, but the necessary protocols must be followed," the headmaster pointed at the distant test stone. "Off you go, give it a try."
"Yes," Wu Yuan nodded.
"Watch carefully, everyone," the headmaster swept his gaze over the crowd gathered to observe the assessment.
Everyone focused on Wu Yuan, curious to see just how incredible this special recruit really was.
Test stones were almost identical regardless of location. Wu Yuan effortlessly lifted the 10,000-catty test stone, eliciting gasps from the crowd of disciples.
It wasn't the weight of the testing stone that was impressive, but rather Wu Yuan's age. Not yet fifteen, yet he held up the 10,000 catties test stone with such ease, clearly far from his limit.
Wu Yuan put down the testing stone theatrically, not attempting to lift a heavier one. He remembered Gao Yu's instructions, and didn't want to reveal too much of his strength.
"Does anyone here have any objections?" the headmaster swept his gaze over the crowd. "If there are no objections, then we shall begin the joint signing of approval." No instructor or apprentice raised any protest.
"Hold!" A cold voice cut through the air, "Headmaster, I beg to differ."
Every gaze in the room fixated on a single figure. It was none other than Xie Yu!
"Inspector Xie, what are your thoughts?" Headmaster Yu Mo’s forehead creased slightly, "Wu Yuan is only fourteen. As per the sect's laws, lifting a stone of 10,000 catties is sufficient for him to pass."
"As per the sect's laws, the assessment does not only evaluate brute strength, but also practical combat," Xie Yu didn't falter. "Headmaster, Wu Yuan's combat abilities have yet to be assessed. Strength alone is not enough. Some may struggle to unleash even 30% of their true power in actual battle due to their inherent fear or lack of conviction."
"This Wu Yuan might very well be all bark and no bite, incapable of passing the practical combat assessment." Xie Yu coldly rebuked.
The furrow between Headmaster Yu Mo's brows deepened. Everyone present was no fool, who couldn't tell that Xie Yu was deliberately targeting Wu Yuan at this point?
"Inspector Xie, how do you suppose we should assess him then?" Headmaster Yu Mo's tone grew frostier.
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